Stephen Krashen (born 1941 in Chicago, Illinois) is a professor and expert in linguistics at the University of Southern California (Stephen Krashen 2010). His theory of Second Language Acquisition, which includes the well-known five hypotheses, is regarded worldwide as one of the most popular and accepted theories in the study of linguistics (Stephen Krashen 2010). He has published over 350 papers and books in the fields of second language acquisition, bilingual education, and reading (Stephen Krashen 2010).
The Natural Approach, developed by Stephen Krashen and Tracy Terrell in 1977, is an approach to language instruction that focuses on communication and a set of messages that can be understood (The Natural Approach 1999). It is based upon five components: The acquisition/learning hypothesis, the monitor hypothesis, the natural order hypothesis, the input hypothesis, and the affective filter hypothesis (The Natural Approach 1999). All of these hypotheses are explained below. The Natural Approach is regarded worldwide as a valid approach, and has influenced numerous second language instructors in practice.
Krashen's Five Hypotheses
The Acquisition / Learning Hypothesis - Language acquisition is an unconscious that develops when using the language in meaningful context (The Natural Approach 1999). It is different from language learning, which is a conscious process. Language acquisition is the only way that a person becomes competent in a second language (The Natural Approach 1999).
The Monitor Hypothesis - Conscious learning only has an active role in the acquisition process when the learner edits his or her output for errors, using what is referred to as the monitor (The Natural Approach 1999).
The Natural Order Hypothesis - The learner typically acquires grammatical structures in a certain order, and teaching the structures in a different order normally does not work (The Natural Approach 1999).
The Input Hypothesis - The best input that the learner can receive is that which is slightly beyond his or her level of competence, yet not incomprehensible (The Natural Approach 1999). This is also known as input + 1.
The Affective Filter Hypothesis - The affective filter is the emotional state of the learner that blocks language acquisition from taking place (The Natural Approach 1999). The filter is at work when anxiety is high, self esteem is low, or there is a lack of motivation (Affective filter n.d.)
The Work of Stephen Krashen
Stephen Krashen (born 1941 in Chicago, Illinois) is a professor and expert in linguistics at the University of Southern California (Stephen Krashen 2010). His theory of Second Language Acquisition, which includes the well-known five hypotheses, is regarded worldwide as one of the most popular and accepted theories in the study of linguistics (Stephen Krashen 2010). He has published over 350 papers and books in the fields of second language acquisition, bilingual education, and reading (Stephen Krashen 2010).
The Natural Approach, developed by Stephen Krashen and Tracy Terrell in 1977, is an approach to language instruction that focuses on communication and a set of messages that can be understood (The Natural Approach 1999). It is based upon five components: The acquisition/learning hypothesis, the monitor hypothesis, the natural order hypothesis, the input hypothesis, and the affective filter hypothesis (The Natural Approach 1999). All of these hypotheses are explained below. The Natural Approach is regarded worldwide as a valid approach, and has influenced numerous second language instructors in practice.
Krashen's Five Hypotheses
The Acquisition / Learning Hypothesis - Language acquisition is an unconscious that develops when using the language in meaningful context (The Natural Approach 1999). It is different from language learning, which is a conscious process. Language acquisition is the only way that a person becomes competent in a second language (The Natural Approach 1999).
The Monitor Hypothesis - Conscious learning only has an active role in the acquisition process when the learner edits his or her output for errors, using what is referred to as the monitor (The Natural Approach 1999).
The Natural Order Hypothesis - The learner typically acquires grammatical structures in a certain order, and teaching the structures in a different order normally does not work (The Natural Approach 1999).
The Input Hypothesis - The best input that the learner can receive is that which is slightly beyond his or her level of competence, yet not incomprehensible (The Natural Approach 1999). This is also known as input + 1.
The Affective Filter Hypothesis - The affective filter is the emotional state of the learner that blocks language acquisition from taking place (The Natural Approach 1999). The filter is at work when anxiety is high, self esteem is low, or there is a lack of motivation (Affective filter n.d.)
More about Krashen and the Natural Approach
Sources Used
Affective filter (n.d.). ESL Glossary. Retrieved from http://bogglesworldesl.com/glossary/affectivefilter.htmStephen Krashen (2010). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Krashen#cite_note-districtadministration_bio-0
The Natural Approach (1999). Retrieved from http://www.sil.org/lingualinks/languagelearning/waystoapproachlanguagelearning/thenaturalapproach.htm
Krashen's Comprehension Hypothesis Model of L2 Learning
This page gives an overview of the 5 hypotheses and offers evidence for the input hypothesis.
A Critique of Krashen's Monitor Hypothesis
Timothy Mason offers a critique of Krashen's monitor hypothesis.
Steven Robinson
sbrobinson85@gmail.com